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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • New Asian Buffet opens on Greenback Lane

    New Asian Buffet opens on Greenback Lane

    Yummy Buffet is now open on Greenback Lane.
    Yummy Buffet is now open on Greenback Lane. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    After more than a year of renovation work, a new Asian buffet is now open for business on Greenback Lane.

    Yummy Buffet Grill and Sushi officially opened Tuesday in the same shopping center as Sam’s Club. Manager Joyce Xie told The Sentinel things were “so far so good.” The buffet offers a variety of Japanese, Chinese, and American cuisine choices, according to staff, including salad bars and a full buffet line of various types of sushi rolls.

    Renovation of the restaurant building began in the latter half of 2023, with observable signs of exterior work occurring for months into 2024. In June, a representative of the restaurant told The Sentinel that the facility initially hoped to open at the end of July. The restaurant owner was not available for comment on Tuesday.

    Yummy Buffet is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The price for a buffet meal is listed as $15.99 for lunch Monday through Friday for adults, $8.99 for kids seven to 10, and $6.99 for kids three to six. Dinner buffet meals are priced higher. On weekends, the buffet costs $23.99 all day long. Seniors 65 years and older receive a senior discount of 10 percent off.

    The building became vacant following the closure of Tokyo Buffet in August of 2019. The Sentinel previously reported the business closed after a kitchen fire damaged the restaurant. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Capt. Chris Vestal told The Sentinel at the time the likely cause of the fire was a general failure of the restaurant’s kitchen hood fire extinguishing system.

    As previously reported, another fire damaged the vacant building in May of 2022. Owner Ling Lin told The Sentinel at the time through an interpreter that he was waiting on permits when the incident happened. The sprinkler system came on, limiting damage to the kitchen area.

    Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi is located at 7217 Greenback Ln.

  • Sunrise Mall store reopens after burglar rammed truck through entrance

    JC Penney entrances were partially reframed with plywood following damage sustained from a truck that rammed through the entrances on Sunday. // SB Williams
    Two JC Penney entrances were partially re-framed with plywood following damage sustained from a truck that rammed through the entrances on Sunday. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The JCPenney store at Sunrise Mall is back open for business, after a burglary suspect drove a pickup truck through the first floor of the building early Sunday morning.

    The store was observed to be open for business as usual on Tuesday, Dec. 17, with plywood framing the two entrances, which were severely damaged when a suspect rammed a truck through one entrance into the building and then stopped to steal jewelry before using his vehicle to make his way out of the second exterior entrance. The interior entrance into the Sunrise Mall was not damaged.

    Construction tarping from floor to ceiling blocked off damaged sections of the first floor on Tuesday while construction workers finished installing wood framing to one of the exterior entrances to the store, but much of the merchandise appeared undamaged and in place. The commotion of workers cleaning up the damaged areas of the store didn’t stop multiple shoppers from browsing and buying merchandise midday on Tuesday.

    As previously reported, Citrus Heights Police officers were dispatched to JCPenney at Sunrise Mall early Sunday morning after reports of a burglary and discovered that someone had driven through the entrance of the store and into the jewelry section. Police said the suspect stole an “unknown amount” of jewelry and then fled the scene in the vehicle, exiting through another entrance of the store. Police were not able to locate any suspects when they arrived.

    In a press release Sunday night, Citrus Heights Police said the vehicle used for the burglary was a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that had been stolen from the Roseville Auto Mall prior to the burglary Sunday morning. Officers were able to locate the vehicle outside the city limits, which was subsequently processed by Crime Scene Investigators.

    JCPenney was also hit with another jewelry heist less than a month ago, where police officers were able to recover at least $91,000 in stolen jewelry when they apprehended the suspect who had fled the scene on foot.

    The investigation into the most recent crash and burglary at JCPenney’s is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department Crime Tip Line at (916) 727-5524. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous, please call the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers tip hotline at (916) 443-HELP. Anonymous information leading to the arrest of the suspect is eligible for a cash reward.

    *Updated to reflect the correct spelling of JCPenney

  • Citrus Heights Police: Two arrested on identity theft, organized retail theft charges

    CHPD released a photo of stolen merchandise after the arrests of 2 suspects last week. // CHPD
    CHPD released a photo of stolen merchandise after the arrests of two suspects last week. // Photo courtesy of CHPD

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Police have arrested two women on multiple charges, including burglary, organized retail theft, and identity theft.

    On Dec. 12, police said a loss prevention officer from HomeGoods was pursuing two suspects in a Jeep who fled from HomeGoods with stolen merchandise. Officers located the car and detained two suspects. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered stolen merchandise, as well as ID cards linked to potential identity theft victims, police said.

    30-year-old Dominique Starks from Oakland and 27-year-old Starr Jones from San Leandro were arrested on multiple charges, including possession of stolen property, identity theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and organized retail theft, with further investigation linking the women to multiple felony thefts in Rio Vista, Fremont, and Natomas. Police said the women had also been committing return fraud using stolen ID cards, resulting in $5,000 in loss, on top of having stolen thousands of dollars in merchandise.

    Arrest records show Stark has a history of arrests dating back to 2012, with multiple arrests on charges of theft, burglary, forgery, vehicle theft, and unlawful use of stolen personal identifying information. Jones was previously arrested in 2017 on embezzlement charges in Alameda County.

    Online arrest records indicate both suspects were arrested on $50,000 bail. As of Dec. 17, Sacramento County inmate records do not list either woman as a current inmate.

    Police said additional stores are believed to have been “repeatedly victimized” by the same women arrested, and follow-up investigations are underway.

  • Police: Sunrise Mall hit a second time with major burglary

    Police: Sunrise Mall hit a second time with major burglary

    An unknown suspect drove their vehicle through JC Penny at the Sunrise Mall on Sunday, Dec. 16, causing destruction. // Mike Hazlip
    An unknown suspect drove their vehicle through JC Penney at the Sunrise Mall on Sunday, Dec. 15, causing destruction. // Mike Hazlip

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Police say an unknown male suspect drove a pickup truck through the bottom floor of JCPenney Sunday morning.

    Citrus Heights Police officers were dispatched to the JCPenney store at Sunrise Mall early Sunday morning after reports of a burglary and discovered that someone had driven through the exterior entrance of the store and to the jewelry section. The suspect stole an “unknown amount” of jewelry, and then fled the scene in the vehicle, exiting through another entrance of the store. Police were not able to locate any suspects when they arrived.

    In a press release Sunday night, Citrus Heights Police said the vehicle used for the burglary was a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck which had been stolen from the Roseville Auto Mall prior to the burglary Sunday morning. Officers were able to locate the vehicle outside the city limits and it is being processed by Crime Scene Investigators.

    Photos on social media show exterior store entrances and parking lots to JCPenney behind Sunrise Mall taped off with yellow caution tape. Employees were reportedly inside the store at the time. No injuries were reported according to the news release.

    Signs posted on the door of the store Sunday night say the store will be closed for three to five days.

    Police have only described the suspect as an “unknown male.”

    Many residents and community members expressed shock and anger on social media and also shared concern for employees and the future of the store itself. JCPenney remains one of only two major anchor stores left in the half-vacant Sunrise Mall.

    JCPenney was also hit with another jewelry heist less than a month ago, where police officers were able to recover at least $91,000 in stolen jewelry when they apprehended the suspect who had fled the scene on foot.

    In August, another burglar crashed a vehicle through the entrance of a smoke shop in Citrus Heights in the shopping center at the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane.

    The owner of the smoke shop told The Sentinel that the crash happened around 5 a.m. and that whoever crashed into the store also stole store merchandise. He estimated the damage to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The vehicle involved had been reported stolen, according to KCRA.

    The investigation into the most recent crash and subsequent burglary at JCPenney is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department Crime Tip Line at (916) 727-5524. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous, please call the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers tip hotline at (916) 443-HELP. Anonymous information leading to the arrest of the suspect is eligible for a cash reward.

  • 2024 Citrus Heights Police Logs Spotlight: Dec. 5-11

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Latest Citrus Heights Police Logs show an increase in vehicle violations and traffic accidents, while showing a decrease in violent incidents, threats and disturbances. Below is a summary of police logs from Dec. 5-11.

    • Animal control: 2 (down from 6)
    • 911 hangups: 29 (same as prior week)
    • Code enforcement: 20 (up from 14)
    • Traffic accidents: 38 (up from 28)
    • Vehicle violations: 288 (up from 256)
    • Theft: 37 (down from 45)
    • Homeless-related: 25 (up from 17)
    • Vandalism: 4 (same as prior week)
    • Violent/threats: 16 (down from 32)
    • Disturbance: 84 (down from 88)
    • Suspicious circumstances: 185 (up from 156)
    • All incidents: 1198 (up from 1063)

    Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date here:

    Dec. 5 | Dec 6 | Dec 7 | Dec 8 | Dec 9 | Dec 10 | Dec 11

    The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.

    The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”

    Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.

  • Toys for the Troops’ Kids seeking donations, volunteers in Citrus Heights

    Toys for the Troops' Kids is looking for donations and is located at Sunrise Blvd. and Greenback Ln. in the Citrus Town Center parking lot. // SB Williams
    Toys for the Troops’ Kids is looking for donations and is located at Sunrise Blvd. and Greenback Ln. in the Citrus Town Center parking lot. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A local nonprofit that collects toys for children of military families is in great need of volunteers this year.

    Toys for the Troops’ Kids kicked off its 23rd annual toy drive on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Citrus Heights, collecting new, unwrapped toys to give to children of military troops.

    The toy drive, run by former Citrus Heights Mayor Bret Daniels, is continuing on, though Daniels and his family have moved out of state. Daniels said the toy drive is in desperate need of volunteers to help collect donations. Volunteers typically assist by monitoring and collecting donations at the donation site in two-hour shifts, but volunteers are welcome to stay as long as they are able.

    Daniels’ wife, Nikki, said her husband, who is an Air Force veteran, launched the toy drive with several of his veteran friends 23 years ago, and she joined to help over 15 years ago. Now her adult son, who is a Marine, is also helping with the toy drive.

    “It’s sentimental,” Daniels said, adding that many of the military families who receive gifts from the toy drive are from the same military units every year, and to stop the toy drive would be “sad.” Annually, different military units across the state host Christmas parties for families of veterans, and gifts are wrapped and distributed by each specific military unit.

    Because her family now lives out of state, Daniels said she and her husband are handling the administrative side of the nonprofit, such as organizing and scheduling pick up and drop off of donations to various military branches.

    Jay Evans, past president and co-founder of Toys for the Troops’ Kids, said Beale Air Force base would often host large Christmas parties for families where the gifts provided by the nonprofit were distributed by Santa Claus. Evans recalls the parties involving Santa Claus riding in on a U-2 spy plane, and a parade of fire trucks with other Christmas characters riding on top.

    “It’s been a pleasure doing this, making a lot of little kids very, very happy,” Evans said on Wednesday while volunteering at the donation drop off location on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane.

    The nonprofit is now working with Lt. Colonel Tom Weaver of the California National Guard, who will take over next year, according to Daniels.

    The collection site for the toy drive is intended to remain open Dec. 7 through Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but finding volunteers to help man the donation site has been a struggle, Daniels said. According to the group’s Facebook page, the site has had to close or only remain open for limited hours on some days because of a lack of volunteers.

    Donations of new, unwrapped toys of any size can be dropped off in the Citrus Town Center parking lot at the northeast corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in between Panera Bread and Sprouts.

    Daniels said more than 500 toys have been distributed so far.

    To volunteer or find out updates about the Toys for the Troops’ Kids, visit the group’s Facebook page here. The Citrus Town Center is located at 7925 Greenback Ln.

  • New Starbucks gets green light from Citrus Heights City Council

    An image included in city documents shows the design of a proposed Starbucks at Stock Ranch Plaza.

    By Sara Beth Williams-
    Key permits for a proposed Starbucks at Stock Ranch Plaza received unanimous approval by the City Council Wednesday.

    The new Starbucks was approved for an undeveloped parcel facing Auburn Boulevard, in the same shopping center as Costco and Walmart. Designs show the planned construction of a proposed 2,308-square-foot building with a drive-thru wrapping around the back. The drive-thru will have a two-car entry to allow for less congestion and easier “stacking” of waiting vehicles, according to the city.

    Previously, an amendment to the development guide, the design permit and use permit were all approved by the Planning Commission in a 6-0 vote during the Oct. 22 Planning Commission meeting, with Commissioner Marcelle Flowers absent from the meeting.

    Along with the Design Review Permit and Use Permit, the applicant was requesting an amendment to the Stock Ranch Guide for Development to allow for extended operating hours for fast-casual and drive-thru restaurants. The guide previously allowed for operating hours from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. for drive-thrus, but the amendment now allows for Starbucks to open at 5 a.m. to remain consistent with other local Starbucks coffee shops, which typically open at 4:30 a.m.

    Community Development Director Casey Kempenaar said design and use permits would normally only need to be approved by the Planning Commission, but projects requesting amendments to development guides need to be approved by the City Council.

    Councilmember Porsche Middleton questioned the reasoning behind opening another Starbucks with a drive-thru so close to an existing Starbucks that also has a drive-thru, echoing a public comment that was submitted in writing by Alfred Sanchez. Elizabeth Valerio from Valerio Architects explained that offering customers multiple Starbucks locations with drive-thrus allows for more distribution of vehicles leading to less strain on staff at either site.

    Both the Planning Commission and City Council members questioned the applicant about whether the existing Starbucks located at Sylvan Corners will close. Valerio said she was not aware of any plans for closure of the existing location.

    “Starbucks is very excited for this site, it’s a fantastic location,” Valerio said.

    Noise has also been a concern, the city said, which led to established limitations in the guide allowing for only one drive-thru and a requirement of reduced hours of operation. To accommodate noise concerns, the applicant is planning to add screening by means of a low three-foot wall and shrubs to help reduce ambient noise level from vehicles in the drive-thru.

    Plans for the new Starbucks location call for landscape improvements between the building and the sidewalk along Auburn Boulevard, including the addition of several new trees, shrubs, and multiple parking spaces. Existing irrigation and landscaping along the boulevard will remain. A rendering of the layout shows an outdoor patio area with several tables in addition to indoor seating. The project provides “pedestrian connectivity” by adding to the existing walking paths that pedestrians can use throughout the shopping center, the city said during its presentation.

    The proposed Starbucks is anticipated to generate up to $4,800 in annual sales tax revenue, according to a city staff report.

  • Four cafes and coffee shops to try in Citrus Heights

    A coffee served at Greenhouse Cafe. // SB Williams
    A coffee served at Greenhouse Cafe. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Whether you’re looking for a drink to-go or a relaxing place to sit and take a breather from the holiday hustle and bustle, check out these four cafes and coffee shops in Citrus Heights.

    Java Cherry: Java Cherry serves coffee and tea in a “homey” atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating. Reviewers have complimented the welcoming atmosphere and the variety of drink choices available, including seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice lattes. The menu also features pastries and homemade coffee cake. Java Cherry has a 4.5-star rating on Yelp and is located at 6720 Van Maren Ln., operating from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, according to Yelp. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.

    The Greenhouse Café: The Greenhouse Café located at 8493 Auburn Blvd. has been described as a “classy” café that serves both coffee and a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes. The venue has indoor and outdoor seating and reviewers have described the service as “friendly” and “attentive.” Menu items include an assortment of coffee drinks including mochas, cappuccinos and lattes, as well as a variety of teas. The Greenhouse Café has a 4.5-star rating on Yelp and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

    The Lodge Coffee shop: The Lodge coffee shop, located at 8191 Auburn Boulevard is the kind of place locals know about, and out-of-towners only find by accident. The iconic A-frame building has been a fixture in Citrus Heights for the past six decades. The café serves breakfast and lunch staples such as steak and eggs, pancakes, homemade hash browns, and of course, coffee and tea. Veterans also receive a discount. The Lodge has a 3.7-star rating on Yelp and is open from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.

    The Human Bean: One of 15 locations in California, the Human Bean is a stand-alone drive thru shop that serves a variety of coffee and tea drinks, including a variety of mochas, lattes, and breve drinks, along with cold brew choices and Chai, Matcha and other teas. The shop also serves several flavors of “Bright Energy” drinks and smoothies. The organization runs several fundraising event days throughout the year for special causes, including Earth Day, St. Jude, an annual Food Drive and Coffee for a Cure in October. The Human Bean is located at 7611 Sunrise Blvd. and is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily., with a 4.4-star rating on Yelp.

  • Popular Citrus Heights drive-thru robbed at gunpoint

    A photo of a local restaurant drive thru
    Two employees working at a drive thru were recently robbed at gunpoint. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Raising Canes restaurant in Citrus Heights was robbed at gunpoint last weekend according to police.

    Citrus Heights Police investigations Lt. Wesley Herman said Thursday that officers responded to Raising Canes on Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights last Saturday, Dec. 7 to reports of two employees being robbed at gunpoint. The employees were standing outside taking orders in the drive-thru area, and the robbery occurred shortly before 7 p.m., police said.

    Further investigation into the incident revealed that a subsequent robbery of a Raising Canes location in Roseville is suspected to be connected to the robbery in Citrus Heights.

    Herman said Citrus Heights Police are collaborating with the Roseville Police Department and that they have “some suspects” but no one has been taken into custody.

    No one was injured or assaulted during the robbery, according to police. The incident is still under investigation.

  • Well-known local family buys up Citrus Heights car wash

    Well-known local family buys up Citrus Heights car wash

    New owner Randy Pastor and son-in-law Scott Woltzen stand with Citrus Heights Car Wash owner Kimberly Berg.
    New owner Randy Pastor (right) and son-in-law Scott Woltzen (left) stand with long-time owner of the Citrus Heights Car Wash Kimberly Berg (middle), Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2024. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Car Wash will soon be under new ownership, according to Kimberly Berg, who has owned the car wash for over 20 years.

    New owner-to-be Randy Pastor, who will take over Tuesday, said in an interview last week that the family is “really excited” for the new opportunity. Pastor owns Pastor’s Auto Care in Citrus Heights, which has an express tunnel car wash. Pastor also opened Cameron Park Car Wash five years ago, which Berg said he modeled after her car wash.

    The Pastor family has operated in Citrus Heights since 1975, with Pastor calling the business “generational.”

    “I was 11 when we rolled into that old Texaco station,” Pastor said, adding that they’ve been there ever since. Currently, Pastor said his daughter and her husband help run Pastor’s Valero gas station.

    Berg said she’s also “excited” for the transition to new ownership. In 2003, she and her former husband bought the car wash as an extra revenue stream because they were planning to retire. The business itself is 40 years old.

    “It’s shocking that we’d even buy or that the seller would sell it to us, back then it wasn’t very busy,” Berg said, adding that she had to “learn on the fly” how to maintain the business, which required regular plumbing and electrical maintenance.

    Over the years, Berg made improvements to the car wash, including investing in a custom-made fence with Citrus Heights Car Wash-brand colors, which was installed in 2020. The fence gives her “peace of mind,” Berg said. Berg has also modernized the car wash property, bringing it into the 21st century with LED lighting, new signage, in-bay dryers, and a credit card payment option.

    These days all the “big maintenance” have been Berg’s responsibility, including paying the bills, advertising, research, customer service, and any odd handyman-related fixes that pop up.

    Berg said finding “the right buyer” was important, and one criteria was to not sell to someone who was only interested in “numbers.”

    “I was just looking for a high-quality person who has a lot of experience,” Berg said, adding that she didn’t want to teach a new buyer “21 years of experience.” In 2022, Berg told The Sentinel that many businesses in her industry are “notoriously poorly maintained” and absentee owners that don’t have their phone number posted are losing business.

    The Citrus Heights Car Wash is a self-service car wash located on the corner of Antelope Road and Auburn Boulevard.